<… Read Full Bio ↴Fossil Collective is British folk duo David Fendick and Johnny Hooker.
This is a band that do things differently. Beautiful melodic music, with rich glorious harmonies and meticulous attention to detail, it is as much an aural statement as it is a pleasure to listen to. Layer upon layer of harmony mixed with delicate uplifting sounds may well remind you of other artists, be it Neil Young, Simon & Garfunkel or Midlake but this music is no mere imitation. Whilst Fossil Collective's songs tip their cap to these classic musicians, scratch the surface and you discover something more contemporary, yet equally as rewarding.
It seems impossible that something so sonically complete could appear as if from nowhere, but Fossil Collective, the Yorkshire two-piece have been perfecting their craft and working towards this moment for years. Consisting of multi-instrumentalists David Fendick and Jonny Hooker, both were local musicians from the Leeds music scene, whose paths had crossed at various points in different bands. 'What separated Jonny from the other people I'd met was his total commitment to music' begins Dave. 'Whereas other people we were around were in bands for somewhat clichéd reasons, our focus was the music and the songs and for that reason we gravitated towards each other'. After a successful album with Leeds band Vib Gyor, the duo decided to strip everything back and start again.
Hooker reminisces, "we felt we had to fold our cards and be honest to ourselves. We were listening to the kind of music we grew up with. (Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, The Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor) We decided there and then to try and capture the essence of that traditional songcraft, to strip everything back to the song, lyrics and melody'' Fendick steps in "It was actually very liberating to be able to do that".
Armed with three roughly prepared demos, the duo found themselves looking for a recording studio. 'We had no money at all, but our friends had a modest little studio in a crypt just outside of the city' says Dave. 'It was a totally surreal place to go to as it was in the middle of nowhere. We had to stop recording at various points during the day as the main church was directly above the crypt. Whenever there was a mass or a wedding for example we had to be quiet - like little church mice scurrying about downstairs.’ However, a week of intense recording paid off, and they re-surfaced with 3 songs that would become their self released 'Honey Slides' EP.
Jonny explains. 'Before we had even decided on the name Fossil Collective we realised that we wanted this project to be a continual running order of like-minded local artists. We worked on the principle that if we surrounded ourselves with an evolving stream of people we admired then our music would never become stale. Keeping away from the constraints of a 'typical' band dynamic would keep it open and interesting for us. If we wanted a harpist we'd go and find one, If we wanted a cellist we'd go and find one and so on.'
Knowing they were on to something special they wanted something visual to reflect this. Enlisting the help of Leeds animator Ashley Dean (Broken Pixel) was the next logical step. ‘Ash is a good friend and a like-minded independent local artist. We played him On & On and asked him to interpret the song.’ The result was the stop/start animated video of a courtship between a wolf and a stag that went viral on youtube, getting over 250,000 hits in 2 weeks.
Once they put their heads above water, things started happening very quickly. Their 3rd gig was at Shepherds Bush Empire, supporting Benjamin Francis Leftwich. "It was great because other artists were contacting us, saying how much they liked our music and inviting us to tour" remembers Jonny. "It was sudden, but we were lucky to have great network of friends to come play with us and help interpret the songs live … after all, who is going to turn down the chance to play Shepherds bush Empire!" The band did a full tour with Ben and then another UK support with soul singer Ren Harvieu.
On 11th June 2012 Fossil Collectives Debut EP 'Let It Go' was released. Lead track was 'Single of the Week' on iTunes USA, opening the doors to a lot of new fans. It received plays and support from Mark Riley, Radcliffe and Maconie, Chris Hawkins and Steve Lamacq at 6 Music. It also won the 6 music rebel playlist. Radio 2 support came from Bob Harris, Mark Radcliffe and an extremely supportive Dermot O'Leary who invited them in for a chat and to perform on his Saturday Radio2 show. 'Let it Go' also made the XFM playlist, the Q playlist & the NME 'A' list. A 10 date headline tour coincided with this, selling out in Manchester & London in a matter of days.
The band built on this success by releasing the 'On & On' EP on 22nd October. Receiving the same support from radio, they were also invited in to record an infamous Daytrotter Session. Press support came from Sunday Times, Time Out, The Fly, The Independent & NME. It was at this point that The Civil Wars starting tweeting about how much they were enjoying the music. A few friendly emails later and Fossil Collective were supporting them at the key gigs of their UK tour. (Camden Roundhouse, Manchester Apollo, Glasgow 02 Academy) 'We feel privileged to play anywhere though' says Dave - be it our last sell out London show to a couple of hundred people, or a few thousand people at Camden Roundhouse. What is important is that we always stay true to ourselves and the music.'
After a winter spent locked away in the studio, Fossil Collective came out of hibernation with “Tell Where I Lie” in hand – their beautifully crafted, ten track, debut album. The album hit record stores on April 8th 2013, the same day the band were invited into Bob Harris’ Radio 2 studio to record a two track session. Released to rapturous acclaim from both fans and critics alike; “Tell Where I Lie” was named iTunes’ ‘editors choice’, quickly climbed to number 1 in the US ‘New Artist Billboard Chart and graced the pages of Clash, Q Magazine, NME, Drowned In Sound and Hunger.
Float
Fossil Collective Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's no one else around in sight
I′m gonna let the storm settle down
Come on, come on, come on
Are you in or out?
Was it a fair race or a false start?
The more you try, the more we fall apart
Was the wrong time on the wrong side of it all
You decide
You decide
Are you in or out?
Making us walk out in a straight line
You like to be the light on the inside
Watching a game show with the sound down
You win some, you lose some
Then you're out
You decide
Are you in or out?
You decide
Are you in or out?
We were miles away
We were miles away from home
We were miles away
We were miles away from home
Only walking backwards
Don't give up on us
All roads lead to nowhere
There′s a lesson learned
Only walking backwards
Don′t give up on us
All roads lead to nowhere
There's a lesson to be learned
Only walking backwards
Don′t give up on us
All roads lead to nowhere
There's a lesson learned
Only walking backwards
Don′t give up on us
All roads lead to nowhere
The song "Float" by Fossil Collective is a hauntingly beautiful tune about making choices and accepting the consequences that come with them. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but they seem to be about the singer taking control of their life and deciding whether or not to let go and "float" down the riptide. There is a sense of detachment from the world around them, as they note that there is no one else around in sight. The storm symbolizes the chaos and uncertainty that life can bring, and the singer seems to be waiting for it to settle down before making a decision on whether to be in or out. They ask the listener to make a choice, too, which makes the song feel even more personal.
The second verse continues with the theme of choices and consequences. The singer questions whether their relationship was a fair race or a false start, and wonders why their partner pulled down on the ripcord. This could be interpreted as a metaphor for ending a relationship too soon or too abruptly. The line "the more you try, the more we fall apart" expresses the frustration of not being able to fix something that's broken. The chorus repeats the question "are you in or out?" as a way of asking if the listener is willing to commit to something. The bridge of the song repeats the phrase "we were miles away from home" which could represent feeling lost or disconnected from oneself. The singer seems to be learning a lesson, perhaps about letting go and moving on.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna float down the riptide
I will surrender to the challenges and go with the flow of life
There's no one else around in sight
I am alone in this journey, facing life head-on by myself
I'm gonna let the storm settle down
I will choose to be patient and wait for the chaos in my life to calm down
Come on, come on, come on
I am urging myself to make a decision, to choose a path to follow
Are you in or out?
This is a call to action, a decision that must be made
Was it a fair race or a false start?
Reflecting on a situation or relationship, wondering if it started off on the right foot
The more you try, the more we fall apart
Despite efforts to fix a situation, things continue to crumble and deteriorate
Why did you pull down on the ripcord?
Asking someone why they ended something abruptly or prematurely
Was the wrong time on the wrong side of it all
Thinking about whether the timing was a factor in the situation’s downfall
You decide
The decision is in your hands
You decide
The choice is all yours
Are you in or out?
Determination to move on and leave the past behind, with a call to choose one way or another
Making us walk out in a straight line
Being decisive and direct in your choices, rather than being indecisive or wishy-washy
You like to be the light on the inside
You prefer to keep your emotions and feelings to yourself
Watching a game show with the sound down
Feeling apathetic or disengaged with life or relationships
You win some, you lose some
This is life, with its countless ups and downs
Then you're out
Sometimes, you lose and have to step back and move on
We were miles away
Being far away from where we truly belong, mentally or physically
We were miles away from home
Feeling lost, ungrounded or disconnected from our personal values or beliefs
Only walking backwards
Stuck in a rut, not making progress in life
Don't give up on us
A plea to be patient and understanding, despite the difficulties in the relationship or situation
All roads lead to nowhere
Feeling hopeless, as all attempts to change the situation have been futile
There’s a lesson learned
Despite the hardships, there is still a chance to learn and grow from the experience
Writer(s): David Fendick
Contributed by Leah J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philip Steer
A traveller wakes in the open air, a tramp perhaps or not but certainly
a wanderer, my dog sits next to me as I type watching the words complete
and compete on the page, she snuggles in close so as not to miss a word.
Back to the song "Float by Fossil Collective" the old man wanders through
the forest followed by a plauge doctor or death perhaps depending on how
you view it. "You decide if your in or out" of society or civilisation
"Miles away from HOME" but the he see's what the world has become and
how he should "Obey" and death standing there behind him and runs back
to his free life in the forest. We notice at the end that he is death
as the 'death mask' is in his bag and is perhaps his former self. Great
work David and the the video writer.
Dan Gordon
The most under rated band I listen to. This is yet another one of your songs that simply transports me to another place. So ethereal and peaceful
Philip Steer
A traveller wakes in the open air, a tramp perhaps or not but certainly
a wanderer, my dog sits next to me as I type watching the words complete
and compete on the page, she snuggles in close so as not to miss a word.
Back to the song "Float by Fossil Collective" the old man wanders through
the forest followed by a plauge doctor or death perhaps depending on how
you view it. "You decide if your in or out" of society or civilisation
"Miles away from HOME" but the he see's what the world has become and
how he should "Obey" and death standing there behind him and runs back
to his free life in the forest. We notice at the end that he is death
as the 'death mask' is in his bag and is perhaps his former self. Great
work David and the the video writer.
ben swa
Less of the old though :) , but yes and I go further to say a longing to return to the Garden of Eden , it questions why on earth did we have to leave in the 1st place ,He as I do can find peace in isolation and at one with God , loneliness in civilization where people are in wanting . Naturally the forest is my/his home
Josette Davis
Absolutely love this band! They should be famous!
PEN GUINO
these people deserve more attention ❤️ Love your music
simon block
When are you going to make proper CDs ? You have a hardcore of devoted fans and I am sure many, like me would like something tangible to collect. I bought 'Tell where I lie' and 'Half light' when I saw you at The Tabernacle a few years ago. The rest of your stuff I've got off YouTube but I'd gladly buy your back catalogue if it were availabe
Nat
The 7/4 pattern at the end is FUCKIN AMAZING
7/4 7/4 7/4 8/4
And then it even goes
7/4 7/4 7/4 9/4
Like how do you even come up with that? Idk but it's absolute genius
andrewle420
I've seem to of hit the jackpot today, nothing but great new discoveries!!
Hag Harris
Gorgeous as ever.
ben swa
Well done you guys and thanks xx